Incoming Sudbury U18 AAA Wolves' coaches Scott Rienguette and Scott Ginson simply could not wait any longer to share their excitement over the upcoming 2024-2025 Great North U18 AAAA League season - so they decided to bring some friends along to share in the moment.

"Friends" might not quite be the most appropriate term for the ten-player group of new signees, though the entire crew can hardly be blamed for wanting to get a bit of a head start with a squad that, at this point, features just three returnees from this past winter.

"We should have a lot of chemistry because the guys who are returning are really welcoming to the new guys," said 16 year-old netminder Wesley Richer, making the jump from the Nickel City U18 AA Jr Sons to the AAA Wolves come September.

"This is a really talented team here," added the grade 11 student at Ecole Secondaire Macdonald-Cartier. "It feels great."

While the move from the Sons to the Wolves means a change in terms of his primary home venue, Richer is thankful for his years of local rep hockey experience, game play that has acclimatized him to the nuances of the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

"You have to have an awereness of the wideness, that's one thing, but also around the Zamboni doors and around the ice, there's a few sports where the puck really bounces out from there," said Richer. "That will scare you a few times."

Returning blueliner Josh Cholette will be sure to share the knowledge that he garnered from his first full season with the U18 Wolves last year, accepting more of a leadership role come the fall.

"I will try and get the boys going in the locker room before games, try and get the morale up, get the positivity going and get ready for the game," noted the 16 year-old defenceman who joins Cameron Vehkala and Nico Labrecque as the signees who also donned this team jersey last year.

Not the largest rearguard on the team, Cholette is keenly aware that an element of physicaility is key for pretty much anyone playing his position at this level of hockey.

"Even if you're small, you still have to be able to use your body," said Cholette. "Just rub them out; don't go for the big hit. Just make sure you focus on body first and then puck - and keep your head up."

"The big guys will try and run at you but if your head is up, you're fine."

Up front, Denver Mulligan can empathize with Cholette as the 15 year-old forward graduates from the U16 AAA Wolves, up one age bracket. "I'm not the biggest guy but I think my speed is a big part of my game," suggested the local product who moved from defense to forward last year.

"And I think I read the ice well so I can see what's going on before the play happens. The bigger ice helps me a lot in that aspect."

Part of the SMHA squad that landed five teammates as OHL draft selections a few months back, Mulligan was able to veer to a silver lining as he looks ahead to 2024-2025. "I think getting overlooked only motivated me more heading into the off-season," he suggested.

"I want to have a good year this year and I think I can make a difference on this team."

Joining Richer, Cholette, Mulligan, Vehkala and Labrecque in the group of new signees were Drake Taylor, Hudson Goulet, Brett Moxam, Grady Jalbert and Gerald Southwind.

Rienguette and Ginson expect to finalize the team roster come the next time the team is one the ice in August and September.